There are digital images from Lauretta’s Digtal Stamps and CoCoDingo’s to be won.So check the blog for full rules on how to play and don’t forget to gain some inspiration from the DT and GDT’s fabulous work.You can also add your name to become a Guest Designer by clicking the link at the top of the page.

Here I’ve used the beautiful Dove image from CoCoDingo as a Christmas image but it would make a serene sympathy or thinking of you type card.I’ve coloured with Promarkers,using the Blender on the dove and around the edges.The dots amongst the foliage have been coloured with a Sky Blue Copic Spica pen,altho’ the glitter doesn’t show.I’ve finished off with lots of gems…. well,because it’s Christmas!Who wouldn’t love a few sparklers this time of year?

The challenge at Digi Doodle Shop’s Best is all about ANIMALS/INSECTS.So no matter how great or small any animal will count.You could also be the lucky winner of a $10 Gift Certificate to spend at Digi Doodle Shop.Second and third place get a badge to diplay on their blogs.All three will be in the running to join us as Guest Designers if they wish.Check the challenge blog for full details.Please take a look,while you’re there, at the rest of the DT’s beautiful creations.

Don’t forget there’s 50% off in the store until the end of the month.So why not pop over and grab a few.There’s such a great choice of beautiful images.

I’ve used Let’s Do Lunch from Digi Doodle Shop for my card.They’ve been coloured with Promarkers.I then went over with the Blender pen to soften the colours a little.I also layered up the piggies to add some dimension.

The idea just popped into my head to do this.I don’t know why I always set myself up for these things.I really hate fiddly cutting out!I don’t seem to have a part of my brain that says ‘That’s really not a good idea’!!I coloured the bottom image then coloured and cut out the piglets.Next I coloured and cut out just the middle one.I shaped them with my fingers and adhered them using sillicone glue so that I could vary the height of each piece.If you notice in the pic the feet are stuck down virtually flat.This gave more roundness to their bodies.Just what I set out to achieve – so maybe it was worth it after all!

There’s lots of Festive fun at AiFactory Challenge this week.The theme is HOLIDAY/CHRISTMAS.You don’t need a AIFactory image to join in but there are some freebies if you’d like one of their images.You have until Wednesday 15th December11:59 EST to upload your project.If you’re uploading your project from an online gallery please tag your project with AIF060 so that we can find it easily and leave you a comment.So stop by the challenge site to check out full details.Don’t forget to take a look at the wonderful DT creations while you’re there!

But that’s not all.To celebrate the new release of the Holiday Celebrations set we’re giving it away as an extra prize.To be in for a chance to win you need to enter the challenge and mention the new set in a blog post including a link back to the AiFactory store.This starts with today’s challenge up until Christmas.

I’ve coloured them using Promarkers and added some Polar White Flower Soft to make the trims on their hats fluffy and to give them some nice crisp snow to stand on.The bow on the velvet ribbon is actually fake.I don’t think you could tie a real one with this stuff very easily so I devised a way of adding one.With my zero sewing skills I made a loop then sewed the two ends together.Next I wrapped some more as tightly as I could around the middle of the loop and stitched it to it.The trick is NOT to cut the ribbon to length first that way you can pull it nice and taut then just snip it off once you’ve finished sewing.

It’s a WINTER WONDERLAND over at Pear Tree Designs this week!There’s also something special going on too.As well as our sponsor The Character Cafe giving one lucky winner a $10 Gift Certificate to spend in their store there is also another prize up for grabs from the DT.It’s a Goody Bag full of crafty stash to say ‘Thank You’ to all our followers who’ve been joining us over the past year.

To play along and be in it to win it check the challenge blog for full details.Whilst you’re there why not draw some inspiration from the DT’s Festive creations!

I’ve used an Imaginisce Polar Bear stamp I bought for 99p!He’s still just as gorgeous as last year.Now,to cut down on time I tend to choose a style of card and mix it up a bit with colours/papers/stamps/embellies etc. So this wil be my signature card this Christmas.I also try to come up with a design that doesn’t use up too much DP or card but still has an interesting feature.This card has some Cuttlebug embossed acetate attached to the front (‘tho it doesn’t show too well).I’ve even made some other cards with embossed vellum too just to mix it a little further.There’s little waste as I’m stamping onto the piece of card I’ve trimmed off the base.I’ve coloured him with Promarkers,using the Blender on his body to blur any harsh lines and sat him on a snowy mound of, the aptly named,Polar White Flower Soft!

With all that going on you’d be mad to miss it!So what are you waiting for ?Head on over to check out full details on how to play and take a look at the DT and GDT’s beautiful work.

I’ve used French Cutie from Lauretta’s Digital Stamps.She’s not really a Christmas stamp you could use her anytime.She just reminded me of the type of image you seeon Victorian style Christmas card with all her lacy petticoats on show.She does look wintry too,keeping her hands warm in that muff.She’s been coloured with Promarkers and her tiny buttons have been given dimension with Ruby Red Liquid Pearls.

I decided to make a rossette using some beautiful Jezebel lace from Pizzazz Aplenty.Us DT were so lucky to recieve some gorgeous goodies from the store.I can tell you first hand I was so impressed with the quality of these products.The lace cut so perfectly I didn’t feel the need to sew the edges of the rossette together once I’d pulled it into shape.I’ve also used some fabulous red Rhinestones to adorn the die cut corner pieces.I’ve also discovered a fantastic new tool!It’s called a Gel Picker and can be found on the same page as the Rhinestones.There is also an informative guide on how to use it.I had so much fun using it and boy did it make life a LOT easier.It’s a real ‘must have’.No more trying to pick them up with with tweezers only for them to ping across the room or trying to position them with fumbling fingers.And most important of all – no cursing when one of the little blighters escapes just as your youngest enters the room!

At Digi Doodle Shop’s Best the theme is LET IT SNOW.So we’d love to see your cards /projects with snow,snowmen,shovels,just anything used for snow.To join in just click on the link for full rules/details.

There is the generous prize of a $10 Gift Certificate for one lucky winner.Plus 2nd and 3rd place get blinkies for their blogs.All winners are in the running, if they so wish, to join us as Guest Designers too.

It’s not necessary to use a Digi Doodle Shop image but if you do you will be entered twice in the draw.And as there is a whopping 50% across the whole store it’s a great opportunity to go shopping for some fabulous images!

For my card I’ve used the delightful Snow Bunnies from Digi Doodle Shop.I’ve coloured them in Promarkers and drew little flecks on their fur in a grey fineliner.I’ve added some Glossy Accents to their eyes too.The tree and sky have also been coloured with Promarkers,using the Blender over the sky.For the snow I’ve applied Polar White Flower Soft over dries clear PVA glue.I’ve only bought this product recently and I’m totally impressed.I call it the closest thing to snow in a pot.I can’t stop using it either but it sure goes a long way!

Here’s a close up view to show the details.

This is the first time I’ve made an offset gatefold.And I decide to use a kraft card base as I’ve seen a few Christmas cards made with it this season.I thought it went with the cute bunnies well too!The sentiment on the front of the card is from the Christmas 2 set in the Free Sentiments/Word Art section at Digi Doodle Shop.

The new challenge is up and running today so why not pop along to play?The theme is WINTER so it’s a nice easy one for this time of year.You don’t need a AIFactory image to join in but there are some freebies if you’d like one of their images .You have until Wednesday 8 December 11:59 EST to upload your project.If you’re uploading your project from an online gallery please tag your project with AIF059 so that we can find it easily and leave you a comment.

It’s not my turn to make a card this week but some of the other DT Members, some new and some returning, have made some fabulous samples to inspire you.So don’t forget to take a look and leave them some love.

Hope you can join in this week and come back again next week when I make my debut.